Automatic valve for dry-pipe fire-sprinkler systems.



W. O. BRYCE.

AUTOMATIC VALVE FOR DRY PIPE FIRE SPRINKLER SYSTEMS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 21, 1913.

1,@91,8@3 Patented Mar. 31, 1914.

H /ZZ/4M C BRYCE Witnesses: Inventor prevent water colummng,

- tually prevent the with.

para" a FFTQG WILLIAM C. BRYCE, 01E MONTREAL, QUEBEC, CANADA.

aoaasos.

Application filed June 21, 1913.

T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM C. BRYCE, a subject of the King of GreatBritain, residing at 250 Peel street, Montreal, Province of Quebec,Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements 111 AutomaticValves for Dry-Pipe Fire-Sprinkler Systems; and-I do hereby declare thatthe following is a full, clear, and exact description of'the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same.

The invention to be hereinafter described relates to automatic valvesfor dry pipe fire sprinkler systems.

In order to more clearly disclose the construction, operation, and useof the invention, reference should be had to the accompanying drawingsforming part of the resent application.

The main objects'of the invention are, to reduce a single-chamber,straight-way valve, for sprinklersystems, which will offer a minimum ofresistance to the flow of the water when in use, which will eflectivelyany springs or similar easily broken parts in its construction, andwhich will contain all of the operative and adjusting means of the valvewithin the valve casing so as to efiecvalves being tampered The singlefigure of the drawings is a central, vertical, longitudinal, crosssection through the invention, with valves seated.

Referring to the drawings in detail, 1 indicates the upper, and 2 thelower casting or section of the valve casing, each provide with anattaching flangeficompleinental to the flange of the other and adaptedto be securely clamped together by bolts and nuts in the usual manner.vThe lower casing section is provided with an inlet passage 3 leadingfrointhe water main and has a by-pass 4 leading laterallyfrom thispassage toward one side of the casing, for a purpose to be laterdescribed. Within the section 2 are mounted all operative parts, thusinsuring alinement of the parts and, also, insuring no outside levers,&c., to be tampered with.

The upper section 1 is provided with a hand hole 5 closed by a removablecover plate 6 bolted in place in the usual manner. Also, this uppersection is connected direct to the riser by passage 7 in the usualmanner. The result is that it is absolutely necessary to Specificationof Letters Iatent.

will not employ ,valve 8 from flying open.

Patented Mar. 3ft rare.

Serial No. 775,125.

securely bolt the cover 6 in correct operative osition beforepumping inthe air pressure, otherwise, the air will escape as fast as it is pumpedin. Thus, no water damage can result from defective ment of the coverplate.

The inlet passage 3 is provided with the usual valve seat which receivesa valve 8 of well known construction which is pivoted to a lever9-fulcrumed-at 10 in the lower casing section 2. The opposite free endof the lever is'provided with a bore to receive the threaded end of'atrigger bolt 11 which may be adjusted toward and from the lever end andsecured in such adjusted positions by means of set nuts 12 threadedthereon, as will be clear. The tip or point 13 of this trigger boltengages a toe 14 extending from one branch of a bell crank'lever 15fulcrumed at 16 in the lower casing section 2-. To the free end of theother branch of the bell crank lever is pivotally connected a.differential valve 17 which closes that end of bypass 4: which opensinto the lower casing section 2. This valve 17 is made with adifferential ratio of 1 to 6, 2'. '6. with such relative upper and loweroperative surfaces that an air pressure oflO pounds in the valve casingwill counterbalance a water pressure of pounds in the by-pass 4; andpassage 3.' Thus,

' at slightly over 10 pounds pressure in the casing, the valve .17 willbe kept closed against a' 60 pound water pressure in the by-pass 4 andinlet passage 3. On the other hand, the opposite operative surfaces ofvalve 8 beingpractically the same in area, it is necessary. to have thetrigger bolt 11 engaged beneath the toe 14 .to prevent the The forceexerted by bolt 11 on toe l t-1s at right angles-to the axis of rotationof the bell crank lever 15.

of valves the toe 13 is placed slightl ofi center of pivotal point 16resulting in slight lifting force on bell crank lever 15. Now, as soonas the air pressure in the casing drops below the predetermined point,the water pressure in the by-pass will swing the valve 17 from its seat,thereby rocking the bell crank 15 and disengaging toe 14 the tip 13 ofthe trigger bolt 11. At this point the pressure on the under face of thevalve 8 will drive it open and the water will rush into the riser andbranches in the usual manner. Due to the substantial equality offastening or misplacefrom operative surfaces of valve 8, there will beno probable tendency to water 'columning. However, should there be anysuch tendency, it will first affect the diflerential valve 17 and driveit shut, due to the ative area of its upper face. The toe let will thenbe in the dlrect path of the trigger bolt 11 and will be engagedthereby, should the valve 8 drop toward its seat. This engagement will,obviously, prevent seating of valve 8, thereby absolutelypreventinganypossibility of water columning. As the tip 13 wears, or to keep a tightjoint between the valve 8 and its seat, adjustment of bolt 11 will beamply suflicient.

It isthought that the construction, operation, and use of the inventionwill be clear from the preceding detailed description.

Changes may be made in the construction, arrangement, and disposition ofthe several parts of the invention without in any way departing from thefield and scope of the same, and it is meant to include all such withinthis application wherein only a preferred form has been disclosed.

Having thus fully what I claim as new Letters Patent is: i

1. In a single-chamber, straight-way valve of the character described, aValve casing section provided with an inlet passage and a by-pass, alever pivotally mounted in said section, a valvecarried thereby, toclose said passage, a trigger bolt carried by said lever, a bell cranklever mounted in said section and adapted to engage said described myinvention, and desire to secure by trigger bolt, and a differentialvalve carried by said bell crank lever and adapted to close saidby-pass.

by-pass,

greater opersection, a valve carried thereby and adapted and adapted 2,In a single-chamber, straight-way valve,

of the character described, a valve section I casing provided with'aninlet passage and a lever 'pivotally mounted in said to close saidpassage, a trigger bolt mounted in the free end of said lever andprovided with an off set tip, a bellcrank lever fulcrumed in saidsectionand provided with a toe adapted to engage said tip, and a-difierentialvalve carried by said bell crank and adapted to close said by-pass.

3. In a single-chamber, straight-way valve; a single valve chamberprovided with alined inlet and outlet passages; a by pass leading fromthe inlet passage and communicating with the valve chamber, at a point alittle below the delivery end of the inlet passage; a lever pivotallymounted in said valve chamber; a valve carried thereby, and adapted toclose the delivery opening of said inlet; a second lever mounted in saidcasing; a diflerential valve carried thereby and adapted to close saidby pass; connections betweensaid levers; a trlgger bolt carried by thefirst lever and engaged by the second lever; and means for adjustingsaid trigger bolt; the said valves, their connecting and cooperatingparts, means, being contained wholly within the valve casing, to preventtheir being tampered with.

In witness whereof I have hereunto Set my hand in the presence of twowitnesses.

WILLIAM G. BRYCE.

and adjusting

